Separation of materials having different specific gravities

ABSTRACT

Liquid separation apparatus having a tank with liquid inlet means connected to the tank directing liquid against a first partition member located within the tank between the inlet means and the tank sidewall. A second partition member spaced above the first member to provide a throat discharging meat and bones into an upwardly rising current of liquid in the channel which allows the meat to float and the bones to sink.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Gordon C. Leonard DaIton,Ga. [21] AppLNo. 634,264 [22] Filed 'Apr.27,l967 [45] Patented Jan. 12,1971 [73] Assignee Meat Separator Corporation Dalton,Ga.

[54] SEPARATION OF MATERIALS HAVING DIFFERENT SPECIFIC GRAVITIES 1 Claim, 15 Drawing Figs.

52 us. c1 .J 209/3, 209/158 51 1m.c1. B03b 3/30 [50] FieldofSearch 209/158- l6l, I73, 2,3,172.5,146,497-499,155 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,961,666 6/1934 116/615 209/18 2,105,101 l/l938 Ste1ley..... 209/158 2,631,726 3/1953 Auer 209/157 2,652,588 9/1953 Harris l7/2(S) Primary Examiner-Frank W. Lutter Q Assistant Examiner-Robert Halper Attorneys-A. YatesDowell and A. Yates Dowell, Jr.

ABSTRACT: Liquid separation apparatus having a tank with liquid inlet means connected to the tank directing liquid against a first partition member located within the tank between the inlet means and the tank sidewall. A second partition member spaced above the first member to provide a throat discharging meat and bones into an upwardly rising current of liquid in the channel which allows the meat to float and the bones to sink.

" ,"YPATENTEDJANIIZIBTL sum 15.11; 5

INVENTOR 50/900 fiilfO/VA/PD ATTORNIZYIS 'VPATENIED'JANIPIQYI A "3.654.371

{same-ms INVENTOR M ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJANIZIQYI 3554371 'sngn 5 OF 5 INVENTOR NAAD This invention relates to the separation of materials, including the separation of relatively soft and lightweight meat from heavier and harder substances such as bone.

The invention remes more particularlyto the removal and separation of meat from a poultry carcass, including all of the parts from which edible meat may be obtained, and to the separation of the meat from small bones and fragments thereof.

Various methods of recovering edible meat from thepoultry carcass, including its various portions, have been known heretofore. The present invention is an improvement upon the procedures and apparatus that have, been known heretofore.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for separating meat from small bones, fragments thereof, and inedible materials. I

A further object is the provision of a novel separator for separating relatively light and heavy materials and in which the separating forces may be varied to suit the nature of the materials being worked.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from; the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of apparatus inaccordance with the present invention;

' FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, enlarged sections on thelines 2-2, 3-3 and 4-4, respectively, of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5, an enlarged fragmentary perspective of the impact cage; v

FIG. 5a, a schematic plan view of the impact cage;

FIG. 6, an enlarged fragmentary illustrating the belt wiper;

FIG. 7, a plan of the liquid-separating tank;

FIGS. 8 and 9, enlarged sections on the lines 8-8 and 9-9, respectively, of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10, a fragmentary illustration of the rear side of the liquid tank;

FIG. 11, a section on the line 11-11 of FIG.

FIG. 12, a perspective of a modified formof the invention;

FIG. 13, a section on the line 13-13 of FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14, a section on the line 14-14 of FIG; 12.

Briefly stated, the invention includes a novel impact mechanism for separating portions of meat and small bones and bone fragments from the remainder of the carcass and in which the impact force may be varied in order to adapt to the specific nature of the material .being worked. The liquid separation tank which receives thematerial from the impact mechanism has inner partitions providing zones in order that the material may feed into a gently upwardly moving constricted submerged stream in which the lighter materials are carried upwardly and the heavier sink, adjustment in the flow being easily accomplished to accommodate varying materials.

With continued reference to the drawings, the impact mechanisms of FIGS. 1-6 is of the general type disclosed in the U.S. Fat; to W. A. Zartman, No. 3,121,252.

.The present apparatus includes a heavy base 10 which supports a frame 11 of heavy gauge steel. The frame 11 has upper and lower crossmembers l2 and 13 at both ends and the lower crossmembers 13 are spaced farther apart than crossmembers 12 and have bearing supports 14 mounted thereon which carry the ends of a square shaft 15 on which an impact cage. 18 is mounted. The impact cage has spaced-angular end rod support members 20 and rod support members 21 mounted on the shaft 15 and intermediate rod supports 22 having rods 23 mounted in spaced relation to provide a cage as indicated in FIG. 5 and a removable cover 25 mounted over the top of impact cage 18.

The frame member 11 has a support member mounted thereon which receives the base 31 of an adjustable motor 32. The base 31 is mounted in tracks provided .in the support member 30 for vertical movement of. the motor 32 and is in threaded engagement with rod 34 which has a bevel gear 35 at the frame 11. The shaft 40 extendsto the outside of the wall I 44 of the frame 11 to a crank 45 by means of which the vertical adjustment of the motor may be accomplished.

Bevel gear 35 is in engagement with bevel gear 46 which drives a shaft 47 which in turn drives a worm 48 and pinion 49. The pinion 49 is mounted on shaft 50 in bearing 51 which is carried in bracket 52 supported on bearing support crossmember 12' fixed to the frame. The shaft 50 is connected to an indicator 53which may be calibrated as desired, preferably in r.p.m. of the shaft 62 which drives the cage linkage.

With particular reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the motor 32' drives the shaft 54 carrying a sheave 55. The sheave is of the sheave which it drives results in spreading the cones of the 1 sheave, thereby reducing the speed of the belt 58 driven thereby. Belt 58 drives sheave'60 which is mounted on shaft 62. At one end the shaft is supported in bearings mounted in housing 64, an intermediate bearing support 65 and a bearing support 66 at the opposite end being provided, the supports 64 and 66 being mounted on crossmembers 12 of the frame while bearing support 65 is mounted on crossmember 12'. The end of shaft 62 adjacent to bearing support 64 has a relatively" short crank arm 68 mounted thereon to the outer end of which crank arm 70 is pivotally connected at pin 71. The other end of crank arm' 70 is pivotally connected by pin 72 to crank arm 73, which, at its other end, receives the shaft 15 on which'theimpact cage 18 is mounted.

It will be apparent that the motor drives the shaft 62 which through the crank arm linkage just described oscillates the cage 18. The motor is mounted at the lower middle portion of the frame in order to reduce vibration and increase stability.

Mounted outside the cage are angularly disposed plates which converge downwardly and direct material discharged through the spaced rods'23 of the cage 18 onto a belt '82 mounted therebeneath. The belt is of the endless'type and at one end is mounted in adjustable brackets 83 which in turn are fixed to the underside of crossmembers of the frame 11 in spaced relation to receive the belt thereb'etween. The belt is supported on roller 84 at its opposite end and driven by a sprocket 85 carrying a chain 86 driven from a sprocket'87 mounted on shaft 87' of gear box '88. Gear box 88 has input sprocket-89' driven by chain 89 from sprocket 89" on shaft 62. Sprocket 85 is keyed to shaft 90 on which an additional sprocket 92 is mounted which drives chain 94 and sprocket 95. Sprocket 95 drives shaft 97, mounted on spaced brackets 96, which carries roller 98 for producing movement of endless belt conveyor 99.

In order to remove any particles which tend to adhere to the discharge end of the conveyor belt 82, a wiper or scraper assembly 100 is provided. The wiper l00-includes'a llatscra'per member 101 extending beyond the 'sidesof'conveyor blt'82 scraper assembly 101, thescraper assembly may be rotated about pivot means 102', causing the scraper to flip over and away from the belt.

To facilitate the continuous introduction of material into the impact cage, a chute 104 having an enlarged hopper 105 is provided which extends through the cover 25 to the inlet end 200 of cage 18. It will be understood that the top of the'cage is open but that the upper portions of its angular sides 23a and 23b movein a path close to the cover 25, thereby preventing discharge of the smaller material except through the spaced rods 23 forming the sides 23a, 23b and curved bottom 23c of the cage 18 permitting additional material such as poultry to be added to the cage without removal of the cover 25. At the opposite end 20d of the cage 18 from the inlet end 20a is a discharge opening 106 in sidewall 23a to a chute 107 in the side of the frame member for discharging by gravity the larger bones and other material parts not small enough to pass through the spaced rods. In order to cause the bones and other materials to move or feed toward the discharge opening 106, the sides 23a and 23b of the impact cage 18 are spaced-apart slightly wider at the discharge portion than at the inlet portion which is beneath the inlet chute 104. This results in the sides becoming gradually further apart, as indicated in P16. 50, in a direction longitudinally of the cage, from the inlet to the outlet. In the embodiment the cage is approximately 48" long, and the spacing varies approximately 1 total; as shown in FIG. a, distance b less distance a is approximately 1'. With the arrangement described the oscillation of the cage causes the bones therein to feed toward and to discharge from the outlet at a desired rate.

In order to promote the free movement of the impacted material within the cage 18, a line 108 is provided which may spray liquid such as water onto the impacted material and spaced rods 23 lubricating same to reduce the tendency of sticking to the rods as the impacted material is carried from one end to the opposite end of the cage while the smaller pieces drop through the spaced rods onto conveyor belt 82. The liquid spray at the same time lubricates the surface of the angularly disposed side plates 80, freely allowing movement of any particles that might adhere thereto.

Reference will now be made to the liquid separation apparatus which is disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 8-11.

This apparatus includes a frame 110 which is spaced from the apparatus housing the impact mechanism. It includes spaced legs or uprights 111 and crossmembers 112. Mounted in the crossmembers is a liquid tank 114 of generally rectangular shaped having a pyramidal bottom 115 with a large discharge or cleanout opening normally closed by plug 116 and which is removable for periodic cleaning. At one side remote from the conveyor belt 99 the tank has a discharge lip 118 which is slightly lower than the remainder of the upper edges of the tank.

The tank is divided into zones for purposes which will be described. Extending laterally across the tank is a first wall 120 whose upper edge is approximately level with the top of the tank and substantially intermediate the inlet and outlet sides of the tank. Wall 120 extends downwardly and substantially angularly toward the discharge side of the tank until it is adjacent to the wall 122 of the discharge side, at which time it curves to extend substantially horizontally to the wall 122 providing a ledge 124 and then has a substantially vertical portion 126 which extends parallel to the wall 122 being spaced therefrom and terminates substantially above the bottom of the tank, where it turns back on itself forming a reinforced backing for the angularly disposed wall 120.

A second wall 128 extends substantially transversely across the tank from its upper level and substantially coplanar with the wall portion 126 previously described. Wall 128 terminates just above ledge 124 thereby providing with the ledge a throat or opening 130, which in one embodiment, is preferably about 1%". Wall 128 and wall portion 126 are preferably spaced approximately 1%" from wall 122 for material of the nature described.

Water is admitted under pressure to the tank in a continuous flow through spaced pipes 132 which are supplied through a manifold 134 from a supply line 136. It will be observed that the water enters the first or major zone 138 of the tank and from which it flows across and down under the lower portion of wall 126 and into the second and restricted zone 140 where it rises under pressure but with a gentle flow up and over the lip 118. The water level is maintained in the third zone 142 which is intermediate wall 120 and wall 128 and into which the materials to be separated are introduced. The liquid in zone 142 is relatively static as compared to zones I38 and 140. Materials introduced in the zone drift down over the ledge 124 and through the restricted throat into the relatively narrow zone 140. The rising current gently lifts the materials of lower specific gravity but is insufficient to prevent the heavier material from sinking.

In order to promote an additional separation of the material in the tank, a series of agitators is provided for the zone 142. The agitators consist of a series of rods or fingers which are mounted on a shaft 152 carried by crank arms 153, 154. Crank arm 154 is pivotally mounted to bracket 156 on the frame, while crank arm 153 is pivotally connected to crank arm 158 which in turn is pivotally connected to crank arm 159 driven by eccentric 160 which is mounted on plate 161 driven by the shaft of motor 162 through gear box 163. Motor 162 and gear box 163 are mounted by bracket 164 to base member which in turn is fixed to the top of vertical frame member 171.

In order to adjust the tension of the conveyor belt 99, the upper roller 172 is mounted on shaft 173 which is carried in an adjustable bearing supported by member'175 in threaded engagement with rod 176 whose other portion is in threaded engagement with housing 177 mounted on angle member 178 178. Mounted beneath the upper run of the conveyor belt is an inclined chute member 180 over which the material drops as it is discharged into zone 142 of tank 114.

The liquid line 136 passes through a flow meter 182, manual valve 184, with adjacent gauge attached, pressure control valve 186, pressure gauge 187 attached on the inlet of valve 186, and supply line 188. A normally closed purge valve 190 is positioned intermediate valve 186 and the supply line.

In the operation of the device, the speed of the impact cage is varied in order to obtain the most efficient separation of the relatively soft material from the harder and of a characteristic which can be most efficiently handled in the liquid separation tank 114. ln the latter, the flow of liquid is controlled in order to most efficiently separate the materials received from the impact cage. Thus the two are individually controlled for most efficient handling of the materials and in accordance with the operation of the other.

The tank 114 may be drained of liquid through a valve 192, and the collection of sunken material such as bones and any meat fragments which have not been discharged over the lip 118 may be removed periodically by removal of the plug 116. The materials discharged over lip 118 are passed onto a table 194 having a screen on which the materials are retained and a drain line 195 which carries away the liquid received thereon.

A modified form of the device just described is illustrated in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 where the housing 200 supporting the impact cage 202 is mounted above and adjacent to the liquid separator tank 204 and the discharge conveyor belt 206 is mounted directly over the inclined wall 207 of receiving zone 208 of the liquid separator tank 204. The drive motor 210 which drives the impact cage 202 through a combination of linkages and shaft 212 through square shaft 214 also drives the conveyor belt 206 through a drive chain 215 mounted about a sprocket 216 keyed to the opposite end of shaft 212. This drives a second sprocket 218 keyed to shaft 220 of gear box 222, which in turn through a series of gears drives sprocket 224, causing chain 226 to drive sprocket 228 keyed to roller shaft 230, driving said conveyor 206. Also mounted on shaft 230 is a second sprocket 232 which drives chain 234 over sprocket 236 keyed to shaft 238 of reducing gear box 240. The gear box 240 drives a second gear train 242 which drives an eccentric disc 244 which, through a series of linkages, drives the agitators 246 which reciprocate within the liquid separator tank.

It will be seen that in the modified form it is possible to oscillate the impact cage, drive the conveyor belt which discharges directly into the liquid separator tank, and also to drive the agitator means in the liquid separator tank by a single drive motor through a series of variable speeds and reducmg gears.

lt-will be obvious to one skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from, the spirit and scope thereof, and, therefore, the invention is.

not limited by that which is illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the ac- "companying claims.

therein, a first partition-forming wall member located withinsaid tank between said liquid inlet means and said discharge lip means, said first partition-forming member having a lower portion spaced-above the bottom of said tank and located generally parallel with the wall structure below said discharge lip means, said partition-forming member having an upper portion disposed at an angle to said lower portion and extending upwardly above said liquid level, a second partition-forming member located above the lower portion of said first partition-forming member and substantially coplanar therewith,

therebetween, said second partition-forming member and the lower portion of said first partition-forming member and the adjacent wall structure defining a relatively narrow channel,

the-liquid under pressure from said inlet means being located in the upper portion of said tank and directed toward said first partition-forming member to cause circulation of most of the liquid in said tank in a downwardly predetermined direction and adjacent to said first partition-forming member a portion of the liquid moving upwardly through said narrow channel in a direction counter to the direction of said circulation, means located above said tank for introducing particles of material to be separated into the area between said first and second partition-forming member, and agitator means located between said first .and second partition-forming members for disassociating particles of material which cling together, whereby particles of material are discharged through said throat into a column of upwardly moving nonturbulent liquid where materials of slightly lighter specific gravities are carried upwardly by the flow of liquid and are discharged over the discharge lip means and the materials of slightly heavier specific gravities sink to the bottom of the tank. 

